Another Third-Dimension Polarity
Even if the entire system we live under is corrupted, that doesn't mean we have to just lie down and wait for the poison to take effect.
From computer files to congressmen, from behavior to beliefs, corruption meanders through the fabric of society. Or should I say, "cavorts wantonly"? Simultaneously, the "high road"—the righteous way—weaves through the potential of our lives. But it doesn't seem like this nation is ready to party with ethics just yet. We look at it and talk about it, but doing it—hmmm, that's a little more strenuous.
I'm not allowed to vote (part of the rules for resident aliens) but if I could, my decision on individual candidates would, at this point in the game, be determined by their level of corruption. I'd want to know what lies beneath the surface. What's the money trail? What's the candidate's cronyism level? What are the contradictions in before-election promises versus his/her voting record? Does she abuse the tempting "perks" of office?
Democracy is an inherently "high-road" political system. But we've been repeatedly exposed to examples of corruption in party politics. (Mark Foley's inability to leave congressional pages alone is sad enough, but his party's cover-up of his weaknesses exposed deep hypocrisy within the "family-values agenda.")
The 2000 and 2004 elections taught us that even our voting system can be manipulated and thus corrupted. But this doesn't change the fundamental freedom that voting represents. That hard-won right should never be taken for granted. Even when elections can obviously be stolen from under our noses, it doesn't mean we give up.
The ability to change the government when elected officials lie, cheat, steal or otherwise corrupt their office is essential for democracy to work. And since things are clearly not working in the current administration's foreign and domestic policies, is it not the perfect time to exercise one's democratic rights?
I will not pretend to be savvy about the US electoral structure, but I learned a lot from Wikipedia's description of the two-party system. Its defenders argue: "Uncommon, unconventional ideas and ideologies remain non-influential, so policies and governments do not change rapidly. . . . While smaller parties find this exceptionally frustrating, proponents of the two-party system suggest that it enhances stability while eventually allowing for ideas that gain favor to become politically influential."
On the other hand, critics of two-party systems argue that "stability is not desirable in itself. The two parties in power resemble each other so much on the major issues and in their wealthy power base that the two-party system more resembles a one-party system."
Which totally matches with my observation that, while there are obvious differences between conservative and liberal principles, there are not-so-clear distinctions between Republican and Democrat. And these blurred lines make you wonder if there is real freedom of choice in the electoral process.
If we can have 50 different cereals, soaps and chewing gums to choose from, why do we only have two viable political parties? Isn't a good government more important than chewing-gum flavors? To me, it is painfully obvious that we don't have more candidates to choose from, or parties' platforms that can become viable, because the system has been corrupted by the money machine. If a candidate has little money, he/she has little hope to be elected. The bottom line is: Those controlling money, control power.
Furthermore, if you investigate beneath the surface of our world structures, there is disturbing information that much in the world is manipulated by the same puppeteers. This global, corporate-military complex has their fingers in the running of many countries in this world, including ours.
I would say we're really not ready to hear this yet. But the evidence is there if you look for it.
For instance: 1. The UN, which many Americans love to hate but which I have been doggedly supportive of for years, is enveloped in a tug of war between the corrupt versus ethical proponents of globalization, which has succeeded only in making it ineffectual. 2. I have a horrible feeling that Bush Sr. and Clinton's media-hyped effort to raise mega-money for world disasters is not the great example of bipartisanship that it appears to be.
The fact that there is a global-domination agenda being perpetrated by a few does not mean that individuals give up the fight to control their own lives. In fact, you fight harder. You become more conscious. More alert. More vigilant. The key is not allowing yourself to be fearful or apathetic. Or corruptible.
Even if the entire system we live under is corrupted, it does not mean that we lie down and wait for the poison to take effect. Corruption can be corrected, eliminated, transformed. The high road, the conscious road, the enlightened path exists.
But it's strictly up to each individual to choose which path they will walk.
Corruption is a choice. It's a result of a disintegrating morality in human life. Its flip side encompasses ethics, right action, truth, integrity. The question becomes: Does it matter if we have morals or not? Is a "code of conduct" important in life?
Only you can decide that for yourself. If you're OK with your own corruption, then you certainly won't care if your elected official cheats on his wife, lies on his tax form or takes money to turn a blind eye. Who cares, right?
But—if you don't, who will?
Maybe the mid-term elections will be over by the time you get around to reading this. While the rest of the world watched, what did Americans do with the democracy that we are exporting so ferociously? Did we take hold of the balls of power and yank hard? Did we remember that the only people who can stop the decline of democracy are "we the people"?
My prayer is that people will use their political voice to make the necessary changes; that people will move beyond their fear and frustration; that people will not allow corruption to win out over the high road of truth.
Into the Future columnist Siri Dharma lives in
Grant County and loves it.